From Omicron’s impact on seniors and lower-income Ontarians to the reasons behind record times at emergency departments, Unity Health experts offered insights this week into our rapidly changing world. Here are our top media hits from July 2-8.

Common injections don’t help knee osteoarthritis more than placebo, large data review finds
STAT News on July 7, 2022
Feature of research led by Dr. Bruno da Costa

An injection given to treat knee osteoarthritis has little effect on pain reduction and may cause harm, suggests a new study led by Dr. Bruno da Costa, acting director of the Applied Health Research Centre.

Omicron deadlier for Ontario seniors than previous two waves combined
Toronto Star on July 3, 2022
Feature of analysis led by Dr. Sharmistha Mishra

A new Unity Health-led analysis found that more than 3,700 seniors over the age of 60 died due to Omicron, more than the previous two COVID waves combined. Dr. Sharmistha Mishra explains the “stark” findings to the Toronto Star.

COVID’s Omicron waves saw lower-income Ontarians die at higher rates, analysis shows
Toronto Star on July 5, 2022
Feature of analysis led by Dr. Sharmistha Mishra

COVID death rates in Ontario’s lowest-income neighbourhoods were roughly double those in the province’s richest areas throughout the pandemic, a new analysis led by Dr. Sharmistha Mishra found.

Wait times for hospital admission from the ER are at a record high in Ontario. It’s a symptom of a system-wide crisis
Toronto Star on July 4, 2022
Interview with Dr. Carolyn Snider

Patients are waiting record times for hospital admission from the emergency department. Dr. Carolyn Snider explains the factors causing the lengthy wait times and why they aren’t unique to any one hospital or institution.

Cryptic pregnancy: How common it is, symptoms and complications
Today’s Parent on July 8, 2022
Interview with Dr. Yolanda Kirkham

A cryptic pregnancy is a pregnancy that goes undetected for a longer time than usual. Dr. Yolanda Kirkham, obstetrician and gynecologist at St. Joseph’s, explains to Today’s Parent the variety of reasons why a pregnancy can go undetected.

The BA.5 subvariant is fuelling another COVID wave
CBC News on July 7, 2022
Interview with Dr. Fahad Razak

The Omicron subvariant BA.5 has mutated to the extent that people are getting reinfected, but staying up to date on your vaccinations is one way to fight the virus, Dr. Fahad Razak tells CBC News.

Also on CBC The National

Monkeypox Case Count Reaches 300 in Canada
MedScape on July 5, 2022
Interview with Dr. Darrell Tan

As Monkeypox cases reach 300 in Canada, Dr. Darrell Tan, infectious disease physician and researcher, speaks to Medscape about why vaccine supply could be a concern.

Live Virtual Group Patient Education: Creating Content, Delivering Sessions, and Meeting Needs
Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast on July 1, 2022
Interview with Tedi Brash

Patient and Family Education Specialist Tedi Brash joins the Health Literacy Out Loud podcast to speak about developing patient education resources and program delivery in a virtual environment.